[ams6110]

This actually is the case all the way up until about age 12 or 13, when they will suddenly not want your attention at all. Speaking from experience.

[arethuza]

"not want your attention at all"

Apart from buying stuff for them, of course. Spoken as the father of one 12 year old.

[petercooper]

Though it's less guaranteed. From about 7 I was out all day on my bike with my friends or in my room playing computer games! :-) My 18 month old can go a good hour or so playing by herself but you'll pay for it later!

[niels_olson]

> From about 7 I was out all day on my bike

That's what you recall... I have a 9 and 6 yo. The have bikes and friends and are out for hours on end. But trust me, not all day. And you have no idea how many times you came back in for this or that.

[petercooper]

Yeah, but in my case we usually ended up annoying the other kids' parents because they were cooler and had more goodies than mine ;-)

[petervandijck]

Therein lies your solution. Don't be a cool parent, and don't have goodies.